COC plans acts of service, kindness

Watch for a week of do-gooding this April. Church of Celebration will have members of all ages out in the community doing service projects.

The third annual event is April 7-13, with projects scattered throughout the week.

“It’s kind of a balance between organized projects and random acts of kindness,” said Family Life Pastor Ben Gores.

He asked Mayor Christian Price what service projects COC could complete, and the mayor returned with a long list from the parks department. So, members have projects at Copper Sky and Pacana Park as well as City Hall, where they will be painting fire curbs.

“We want to establish a culture of giving back,” said volunteer Matthew Perez. “We want to love people like Jesus did – friend or stranger.”

One of their “classic” acts of kindness is passing out water bottles to anyone who needs one at both city parks. They have also handed out free doughnuts to commuters waiting for lights coming out of Rancho El Dorado and The Villages.

“People give you a funny look. But when they hear doughnuts, they’re all about it,” Gores said.

Volunteer April Martinez said she has been among those handing out doughnuts at the side of the road.

“It’s so fun to bring joy to someone on their commute to work,” she said. That included handing out two boxes on a school bus.

Previously, they did work at Against Abuse, picked up trash on State Route 347, handed out dog treats at the dog park, weeded yards and planted a box garden for the Maricopa High School culinary program.

“We want to be a church that doesn’t just tell people that we love them,” Gores said. “We want to show people that we love them. We want to go where people are in everyday life.”

 

ChurchOfCelebration.com

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This story appears in the April issue of InMaricopa.